(25 Jan 2001) Pashtu/Natsound
VOICED BY: LOUISE BATES
XFA
In the week since new U-S and Russian sponsored United Nations sanctions against Afghanistan were imposed, the war battered country's beleaguered currency has nose-dived and food prices have soared.
Meanwhile, a new survey conducted by the World Food Program has reported that children in Afghanistan are dying of hunger, with almost half of all children living in the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif suffering from malnutrition.
VOICE OVER:
00.01
Floundering after years of civil war, sanctions and drought, Afghanistan's economy can barely withstand the impact of tough new sanctions imposed nearly a week ago.
00.09
The United Nations sanctions are a response to the refusal by the ruling Taliban to surrender suspected terrorist Osama bin Laden for trial in the United States.
00.18
But anti-American sentiment is undaunted, even as the country's currency - the Afghani - slips yet further against the dollar.
00.26
SOUNDBITE: (Persian) Voxpop, money trader
00.27
This money trader said Afghanis would not give in to pressure from the United States. Even if they use force against us, he says, we will trust in our God.
00.38
The Taliban too seem none too keen to relent.
There is, they say, no evidence to link Bin Laden to terrorist activities abroad.
00.46
SOUNDBITE: (Pashtu) Afghan Foreign Minister, Wakil Ahmed Mutawakil
00.47
"In the first place, we do not have extradition treaties with any country. Secondly, we have to say that before anybody is extradited or punished there has to be something against him, something which is proved. And so far we have no proof against Bin Laden."
01.03
Authorities in neighbouring Pakistan appear to support the sanctions, but right wing religious groups say they're illegal and unjustified.
They're urging mass Muslim protests in the region in support of the Taliban.
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